Blessed Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church
500 Upper Bukit Timah Rd, Singapore 678106
The king of Jerusalem, we might think from what follows, was hardly qualified to be the teacher of morality to mankind. Yet, in the Providence of God, does it not make what he taught all the more remarkable, and at the same time provides the most fearful warning to all who read this book. Remember, a greater than Solomon is here, for Christ speaks to us by His Word and Spirit.
To whom are these proverbs mainly addressed? In other words, what is the relationship between Solomon and his “audience”? There are fifteen exhortations to my son in chapters 1-7, and seven more in other chapters. My sons or my children appear four times, all from Solomon. This suggests that the proverbs are from “fathers to sons” rather than from “teachers to disciples,” as some would have them.
It is difficult to give an outline of this Book. It has so many topics but little apparent structure. It mostly runs on from one verse to another. Almost every verse could be a sermon or a principle standing alone. Yet there is a general design that runs through the whole that is always kept in view by the author. Its purpose is to instruct all, young as well as old, in the secret for a life of true joy, for time and eternity. In the end the choice is between Wisdom of God or the Folly of man.
The word “proverb” (mashal) appears only four times in all, (1:1, 6; 10:1; 25:1). The meaning of the words is likeness or resemblance. In this they are akin to the parables of the New Testament. They become “representative statements, not relating solely to a single fact, but standing for, or representing other similar facts” (Perowne).
Liberal-Modernist scholars assert that the Proverbs began as ‘one-liners’ and later expanded to carry a ‘motive-clause’ as the result of an ‘evolutionary’ development! This view attributes to Solomon only a few of these Proverbs. Even some ‘conservative-scholars’ assert that Chapters 1-9 were written long after Solomon’s time. Proverbs 1:1 is a general heading and the rest added by Hezekiah’s men, who put the whole Book together.
The Corinthian Christians were saved as a fruit of the Apostle Paul’s ministry. The gospel that he preached indeed were effectual to the conversion of souls and how they renounced their idols and come to faith in Jesus Christ. It was a well-known fact that an undeniable change has taken place in their lives. There was no necessity for any letter to be written on pen and paper to authenticate the Apostle Paul’s love for them.
The Apostle Paul begins this chapter with the question, “Do we begin again to commend ourselves?” The again does not imply that he had commended himself previously. Rather, it simply means that he had been accused of doing so, and now he anticipates the repetition of such a charge against him. [William MacDonald]
The testimony of the gospel team led by the Apostle Paul went about their mission work with sincerity of heart, preaching the gospel in the fear of God. They were mindful of the spiritual mandate placed upon them and were careful to speak the truth according to the Word of God. Venturing not to speak beyond what the Word of God says, they stood behind the Word of God.
Believers with the gospel mandate are given the task to usher souls to heaven or to consign them to the condemnation of hell. What a grave responsibility! Who is sufficient for these things? Who is adequate for such an undertaking? Not by our own strength but by the grace of God.
When the gospel is preached, there can be two responses. One may repent and receive Christ and be saved, one may reject Christ and perished in eternal damnation. The two thieves that were hung beside our Lord when He was on the cross provided for us this contrast.